Is Taylor Swift the modern day William Shakespeare? Pop star makes multiple references to iconic playwright on new album

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Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life Of A Showgirl, includes several nods to the renowned playwright William Shakespeare.

On a weekday, the 35-year-old musician unveiled the cover and tracklist of her upcoming 12th studio album during her appearance on Travis Kelce’s (also 35) New Heights podcast, where she is his guest.

In my admiration, I frequently referenced that esteemed 16th-century English playwriter, often hailed as one of the most remarkable authors throughout history.

Taylor Swift subtly referenced William Shakespeare in both the opening track of her new album and its cover art. Furthermore, she shared that she had to educate her boyfriend, Kelce, about the plot of Shakespeare’s play, “Hamlet,” since he hadn’t previously read it.

As Swift, who was once commended by a Shakespeare expert as a true poet, displayed the vinyl to Travis and his brother and co-host, Jason, she revealed that the initial track is named ‘The Fate of Ophelia.’

Ophelia is a character in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. She is the romantic interest of Prince Hamlet, and ultimately meets her sad end by drowning in a stream.

Observers pointed out that Taylor Swift seemed to allude to the character in her album artwork as well. In the artwork, she is almost completely underwater, seemingly in a bathtub.

The scene evoked reminders of the renowned 1851 painting by John Everett Millais, where Ophelia is shown floating peacefully in a river moments before her tragic demise.

or simply,

The imagery was reminiscent of Millais’s famous 1851 painting depicting Ophelia floating in the river just before drowning.

Following Swift’s revelation of the title for the first podcast track, her partner playfully inquired of his sibling, “Isn’t that The Fate of Ophelia?

Whilst the performer was grinning, they glanced at the athlete, posing the question, “Shall we discuss Hamlet?

‘I don’t want to get Jason all riled up,’ the Kansas City Chiefs tight end replied.

Later on, Swift shared with Jason that her partner “possibly hadn’t read Hamlet,” but she “walked him through it.

The athlete jokingly said, “Make sure my high school English teacher doesn’t find out I didn’t read it. I should have, though.

After his brother poked fun of him, Kelce replied, ‘It’s alright, I watched the Lion King.’ 

Swift pointed out that it was clear the person knew about the play “Hamlet,” as it served as the inspiration for the Disney animated musical.

The football star’s brother was surprised by this, asking, ‘Wait, Lion King is based off Hamlet?’

‘Yes!’ Swift exclaimed.

It’s worth noting that Blake Lively, who is 37 years old, previously played a character called Ophelia in the movie titled Savages, much like Swift’s former friend.

In the past few months, a rift has developed between the two, following Taylor Swift’s involvement in the legal dispute between her “It Ends With Us” co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, who is 41 years old.

In an exchange that’s become quite notorious, Lively seemed to liken herself to Daenerys Targaryen (the character Khaleesi) from Game of Thrones, while referring to Swift as one of her ‘dragon companions.’

It appears that the commotion allegedly made Swift, who serves as a godmother to Lively’s three children, feel used or taken advantage of by her decade-long friend.

It’s speculated that Swift may tackle the topic of a friendship ending in her upcoming album, given that one of its songs is named “Ruin The Friendship.

Apart from performing, the singer disclosed that the creation of the album stemmed from personal experiences occurring off-stage during her Eras tour.

This is not the first time Swift has referenced Shakespeare.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but draw inspiration from the legendary playwright when crafting my lyrics. In my 2008 hit song “Love Story”, I delicately intertwine elements of his timeless masterpiece, Romeo and Juliet, to tell a modern tale of love and conflict.

‘You were Romeo, you were throwin’ pebbles/ And my daddy said, “Stay away from Juliet,”‘ she sings.

In the year 2023, Shakespeare expert Jonathan Bate extolled Swift’s skill with words, referring to her as a genuine poet in an article published by The Times.

Additionally, he pointed out that Swift’s tunes subtly reference other renowned writers like William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, and Charlotte Brontë.

It’s not surprising that Swift draws inspiration, given that Shakespeare is often hailed as the most accomplished playwright in history, and many consider Swift a skilled narrative artist.

Swift’s inspiration isn’t shocking since Shakespeare, known as the greatest dramatist of all time, is a benchmark. Similarly, Swift is admired by her followers for her exceptional storytelling abilities.

Shakespeare’s works delve into enduring topics like love, deception, aspiration, and retribution, much like the themes explored in Swift’s music.

The playwright maintains an exceptional status in global literature, with their prestige surpassing that of any widely acclaimed author.

He is credited with producing 39 plays, 154 sonnets and three long poems.

As a connoisseur of cultural nuances, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the universal appeal of his works – from the heart-wrenching tale of star-crossed lovers in Romeo and Juliet to the psychological drama of Hamlet, and the intrigue surrounding Othello. These timeless stories have been beautifully reinterpreted into numerous languages, underscoring their enduring relevance across diverse cultures.

Actors worldwide carry out this action countless times each year, while it’s also extensively explored by numerous students globally.

While fans of Swift eagerly anticipate the launch of her new album due on October 3, this much-awaited record marks approximately one and a half years since the release of her 11th studio album, titled The Tortured Poets Department.

The artwork on the album’s cover features a collaged appearance using tightly framed, sparkling images of Taylor Swift’s adorned physique along the edges. The title ‘The Life Of A Showgirl’ is displayed in shimmering orange letters.

In a powerful photo taken by renowned photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, the captivating artist maintains a steady gaze at the camera, a moment immortalized following their previous collaboration on the cover art for her 2017 album, “Reputation.

She expressed her intention to put maximum effort into crafting vivid imagery for ‘The Life Of A Showgirl’, as she is extremely pleased with the accompanying music.

In a notable change of musical direction, Taylor Swift’s upcoming album “The Life Of A Showgirl” signifies her first project in more than ten years that does not involve the regular collaboration and songwriting partnership with Jack Antonoff.

Swift affirmed that she collaborated with renowned pop music producers, Max Martin and Shellback, on her latest album.

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2025-08-14 16:04